BMW M School - 2 Day Performance School - Review by an F10 M5 Driver

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Stealth,

Thanks for the write up and the info. I didn't know about the CCA discount, been a member for years. I gotta figure out a time for me to cash in my free 1 Day voucher. But, it sounds like I really should do the 2 day school.

Yes, JUST DO IT!!!! we have 2 other San Diegans in already...(Rob and Marko)

[RPiM5]

I'm, also wondering if I shoulda gotten the ///M6 according to these pictures. They look so cool!

[southern6er22]

Thanks for the awesome write-up. I'm headed to the PC for this class later this month with my dad and brother, and your description made the wait even more unbearable - thank you

I agree 100% on the benefit of 2 days. I did the 2-day car control course following PCD on my 650xi last February, and I distinctly remember thinking that everything made a lot more sense and I was more comfortable with the exercises on the second day. Day one would be educational but not real world beneficial like the 2-day course (if that makes sense...).

[uhn2000]

Amazing, review thanks! Love the Turbo "too quiet" comment, I totally agree!

[ucla95]

You're costing me money with this post...

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by ucla95

You're costing me money with this post...

It will be the best money you ever spent on motoring. Trust me. An M Car demands an M driver.

[Rob///M5]

Awesome contribution Stealth. I knew you would put a great write up together about the experience. Thanks!!

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by Rob///M5

Awesome contribution Stealth. I knew you would put a great write up together about the experience. Thanks!!

You will too in a few months :-)

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by BarryB

You will too in a few months :-)

I'm glad I did this early, but I'm sad to be missing out on the M5 ED reunion at the M School. You guys are going to have an epic time! Can't wait to read about it. And please take a GoPro HD Hero 3 - I wish I hadn't been advised not to by some on the board.

[runningthingz]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

And please take a GoPro HD Hero 3 - I wish I hadn't been advised not to by some on the board.

I'm bringing my Hero 3 and car mount so we can get some good video.

[RPiM5]

"However the M6 is noticeable less comfortable than the M5. The M6 seats are pretty poor being narrower and firmer - you don't get the cradled feeling of the M5 seats"

I found this part of the review very interesting. Visually, the M6 seats look just as comfortable as the M5's. I've sat in the M6 seats a couple of times, but have yet to spend some serious time in them. Glad to hear that the M5 seats are more comfortable. Also can you comment on the use of the adjustable side bolsters on the M6 verses non-adjustability of the M5's?

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by runningthingz

I'm bringing my Hero 3 and car mount so we can get some good video.

I'll have my Hero2 also but can film you this time :-)

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

"However the M6 is noticeable less comfortable than the M5. The M6 seats are pretty poor being narrower and firmer - you don't get the cradled feeling of the M5 seats"

I found this part of the review very interesting. Visually, the M6 seats look just as comfortable as the M5's. I've sat in the M6 seats a couple of times, but have yet to spend some serious time in them. Glad to hear that the M5 seats are more comfortable. Also can you comment on the use of the adjustable side bolsters on the M6 verses non-adjustability of the M5's?

The adjustable bolsters will probably help if you are a slim guy. I wear a size 44 suit jacket so I'm actually able to fit quite well in the M5 seat. Bolsters weren't a big deal.

However I find the M5 seat is wider and especially wider at the top of the seat with upper bolsters. It also has more cushion effect when you hit bumps so your body receives less vibration. You feel cradled in the M5 seat - it surrounds you and keeps you in place while absorbing impacts. The M6 seats are much firmer and also narrower so you are jolted around more in the seat and also you have less shoulder support so your upper body moves around more in the M6 seat.

This said I think even the slimmer guys in the class preferred the M5 seat.

[GOLFFRR]

Awesome! I can't wait to go back again so I can experience the the new m5 and m6 out there!

[Maroon]

What blue color is that M6 in the first pic? Interlagos??

[gunsekun]

you get to keep the helmet?

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Maroon

What blue color is that M6 in the first pic? Interlagos??

San Marino Blue.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by gunsekun

you get to keep the helmet?

Yes. In my case they didn't have the helmet in my size so they gave me a loaner for the second day, and are shipping a new helmet to my home. It's very nice. Looks like this.

[Peahi]

Outstanding write up!!! Good times man!! Damn I gotta attend in the future!

[Never Convicted]

Great writeup. I took the 1 day school before I got my M3, then took factory delivery when it came in. I was the only one taking delivery on that day, so Donny and I spent about 3 hours flying around the track. Almost like a free 2nd day of the school.

Your review makes me want to do it again. I wonder if they take remedial students?

Thanks very much for your efforts.

[evanevery]

Nice Review!

In just the last year I have done 2 deliveries at the PDC (X6M and M6) as well as the 2-Day M School (Nov). I am also signed up for the Advanced M School at VIR at the end of this coming April. The instructors and the facility are a true joy to deal with!

I will take one exception to one comments that has already been made... Leave your video camera at home!

I would NOT suggest taking along any car mounted camera during these events (Hero, GoPro, or otherwise). I purposefully made a decision NOT to do this during the 2-Day M School.

There were a couple of folks who did bring along their cameras to be used in the cars and they I'm pretty sure they proved to be a major distraction to these people during the class. There are 3 different vehicles that are used during these classes. (My class was one of the last to use the 1M's - and we also had the M5's and M3's). A student typically runs three activities each morning and three more each afternoon. Each activity typically involves a different vehicle. You basically are hopping in/out of each of the three vehicles in the morning and then doing it all over again in the afternoon.

The folks that brought cameras spend a bunch of each time we changed cars to get their cameras mounted and ready to go. Time that could have been spent otherwise contemplating what the exercise was about or even getting their M "modes" properly configured (rather than their cameras). This appeared to be a major distraction and loss of continuity on their part...

IMHO: it was a lot like a tourist who spends much of their time viewing their trip through a camera viewfinder rather than actually experiencing the event first hand. I understand that the analogy is not perfect as once the cameras are set up then they just run for the rest of the event. However, I personally think the loss in continuity for those folks who did choose to continually mount/remount their cameras was somewhat detrimental to the program (at least for them). The folks who spent time worrying about getting their cameras mounted were NOT the folks most focused on learning the skills presented (at least in my class of 15).

I have a nice Sony full 3D / HD video camera that I thought long and hard about brining down to the class. Although it would be really cool to have come away with full 3D HD cockpit video of the events, I'm actually really glad I did not have that distraction/temptation during my visit.

The cars were equipped with Racekeeper video equipment in any case. ...and truth be told, the video you record is VERY anticlimactic (IOW: boring) with respect to what you actually experienced at the track. Video of the driving is just NOT that interesting. The speed appears to be completely lost in the video environment.

My $0.02...

[tony20009]

TYVM for sharing, and for composing a well organized as well as informative review. I'd often wondered about the difference between the one and two day variants.